Flynn and Zeke stood near the doors, hovering beside the officers who had been assigned to protect the exits. Like Ellie, they were still suspicious of everyone they encountered, and Valerie’s safety was more important than anyone offended by their presence. Clay sat beside Ellie, hands resting in his lap as he listened carefully as Valerie told her story.
None of it was new to Ellie, but she found herself fighting back tears, nonetheless. Valerie had survived being kidnapped to then be sold to a madman who kept her locked in a basement he’d fashioned into a life-sized dollhouse. She recounted the moment she’d learned that her boyfriend, Ben, had died shortly after they’d been captured, and the fear when she’d realized the man who’d bought her from Arthur Fink intended to hunt her like an animal too.
Ellie shuddered at her version of the events they’d shared, deep in the woods with Tucker Penland. But when she locked eyes with Valerie across the courtroom, she knew she’d do it all over again.
Valerie was wrong. Ellie wasn’t the one with enviable strength.
* * *
The court proceedings lasted a grueling three hours, and when the ordeal was over, the courtroom was cleared so Agent Lockwood could coordinate the next step in a secure area.
Lockwood waved them over to the front bench, positioned so he could see them and the doors. When Flynn and Zeke didn’t join them right away, he called both men over. “I need you two as well.”
They hesitated, but Agent Lockwood was insistent.
Flynn sat beside Valerie, and this time, they held hands openly, aware that their time together was coming to an abrupt end.
The sight tore at Ellie’s heart. She could only imagine how Valerie felt. She’d lost so much, and now she had no choice but to walk away from the only friends she’d had in two years. It wasn’t fair.
“Valerie, you did an amazing job, and I’m beyond proud of you. I think we all are.” Agent Lockwood smiled, holding a small stack of papers. “I can’t tell you where you’re going, but I can tell you that I pulled some strings to get you in our best setup. I know it doesn’t make up for everything you’ve been through or the people you’re leaving behind, but I hope it brings some comfort.”
Valerie choked back tears and nodded her thanks.
Ellie’s jaw tightened, the cruelty of the victim having to give up everything because of what had happened to her almost too much to bear. She wanted to shout that it wasn’t right and offer up whatever amount of money it would take to keep Valerie safe and in Charleston. But that wouldn’t be practical, and she knew that staying in Charleston would serve as a constant reminder of the past two years of Valerie’s life. Valerie was trading one evil for another, and there was nothing Ellie could do to change that.
Agent Lockwood cleared his throat. “After talking with Flynn about some of the challenges Valerie will face due to the widespread prevalence of human trafficking rings in major US cities, and my personal mission to reduce the trauma victims experience at the hands of the justice system, I pulled a few strings, and well…” He handed the papers to Flynn.
The room was silent as Flynn read each line, his lips moving in disbelief. Incredulous, he looked up from the document. “Is this real?”
Agent Lockwood nodded. “It’s legit.”
“My brother Zeke too?”
Ellie blinked, surprised that she didn’t realize the pair were brothers. Some detective she was. “You’re brothers?”
“Half. Different last names.”
That made her feel a little bit better.
Clay nodded, his voice loud in the room that was still hushed in shock. “Yes. You’ve done an exemplary job of keeping Valerie safe, and you have the necessary security clearances and training to be named as her handlers.” He winked at Valerie, who was struggling to hold her emotions in check as she leaned into Flynn, reading the words on the page. “That’s how I was able to get you such a sweet setup.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Her hands shook as she pushed her dark hair from her tear-stained face. “Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”
“You did your part to make the world a safer place. It’s the least I could do.” He cleared his throat and checked his watch. “I hate to cut this short, but you three have a private jet to catch. I wish you nothing but the best.”
They stood in unison, Valerie openly sobbing, the relief too much to bear. She threw herself into Flynn’s arms, burying her face in his chest. He towered over her petite frame, strong arms swallowing her whole.
Hot tears stung Ellie’s eyes, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away. She wasn’t the only one crying, and it was nice to shed happy tears for once. There’d been far too much pain.
But seeing them together also made her think of Nick. She still needed to talk to him. Soon. She’d do that soon.
Ellie and Agent Lockwood accompanied the trio to the parking garage, where Ellie gave Valerie one last hug, holding on until a light tap on her shoulder let her know it was time for her friend to leave. Nodding through the tears, she held Valerie at arm’s length before letting her go and stepping back so she could get in the car and be whisked away to her new life.
This time, Flynn sat in the back with Valerie. His left arm cradled her against him, but his right hand remained free, ready to draw his weapon if needed.
Agent Lockwood nodded to the man in black who slid into the driver’s seat. The engine roared to life, and they drove away.
“Thank you for getting Flynn and Zeke in with her,” Ellie said as the taillights disappeared around the corner. “You don’t know how much it means to know that she won’t be alone.”
“It was an easy decision, though I did have to pull a few strings to
